State atheism

State atheism is a policy of total separation of church and state, in which religion is a private matter. In some cases, such as in the Soviet Union, religion is discouraged, and it is prosecuted if it is practiced publicly. State atheism is a radical form of anti-clericalism, and its proponents argue that it removes the corrupt influences of the clergy on society, enforces "true religious freedom", and that it frees people from the "lies of religion". State atheism was a major tenet of communism during the Cold War, and many former and current communist countries such as China and the former Soviet states have high atheist populations.